THE running joke

in Irish football after the Nations League lethargy is that any club under the auspices of the FAI who steps out of line will be hit with a fine in the form of complimentary Republic of Ireland match tickets.

There are only so many freebies the FAI can dish out, though, as not everyone wants to see the senior team right now.

Even if the FAI charged nothing for the friendly visit of Northern Ireland on Thursday, November 15, it’s a fair bet that many wouldn’t be bothered to attend. Once the senior team starts to haemorrhage support, the FAI has a major problem.